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Originally posted by Daemon SinSo tank size will limit growth then? I will try to restrain myself from getting involved with a tank larger than I can handle for now. I'll see how he grows, and try to move it up as needed.
Unfortunately, with the kind of catfish you've got, the bigger the tank you have the bigger he'll grow! As you're new to the fish keeping game, I wouldn't advise having anything over a 75 litre tank as they take quite a bit of care (especially with water changes).
Don't worry too much about the algae vs. clean tank issue. Enough algae to feed the littl ...[text shortened]... her types of food I suggested will be it's main diet, the algae is more of a snack for it.
Algae as a snack. Yum.
Originally posted by SJ247I'm not sure about needing one really maybe someone else could answer that. When I bought him he was in with tetras and angels which are tropicals and need the water to be heated.
This one's about four inches long, who knows how long it's been lurking in the plant tank. Do you recommend a heater then?
I already want a bigger tank. It's been an entire day.
The friendliest fish I have are the angel fish (Barry and Glenn) they will follow my finger around the tank and come right up to me...sweeties they are.
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Originally posted by Moldy CrowWell, when I was looking to find this fish online, the "Plecostomus" name was in the same category, so I figured same thing, in all of my fish wisdom. He does sweep the rock surface, and also sometimes skins the water surface upside down, which is pretty comical.
The "barbs" near the mouth are actually called "whiskers". But they are sensory organs that can taste and feel what is near the fish's mouth prior to ingesting. It certainly sounds like a catfish, and not a plecostomus. If you watch carefully, he will sweep through the gravel/sand on the bottom of the tank with the whiskers and take in mouthfulls of grave ...[text shortened]... s inedible.
EDIT- If he doesn't feed much, and just sits around, he may be nocturnal.
Funny that you say nocturnal, I noticed last night (first night) that he seemed to really become active later in the evening. I do have a light on the lid, do you think they mind this?
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Originally posted by PeachyOh I will, trust me!
Leave that algae to the fish!
Thanks for the link, I haven't looked yet, but will. I'm getting information faster than I can process it. I never expected so much catfish info would be available so fast. Faster than a google search.
Originally posted by SJ247Mine is more active at night too...I always switch off the tank light before i go to bed but keep it on until then because it's so relaxing to watch
Well, when I was looking to find this fish online, the "Plecostomus" name was in the same category, so I figured same thing, in all of my fish wisdom. He does sweep the rock surface, and also sometimes skins the water surface upside down, which is pretty comical.
Funny that you say nocturnal, I noticed last night (first night) that he seemed to really become active later in the evening. I do have a light on the lid, do you think they mind this?
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Originally posted by wucky3Yes angel fish are very pretty. Great fish names!
I'm not sure about needing one really maybe someone else could answer that. When I bought him he was in with tetras and angels which are tropicals and need the water to be heated.
The friendliest fish I have are the angel fish (Barry and Glenn) they will follow my finger around the tank and come right up to me...sweeties they are.
Originally posted by SJ247How big is your current tank? What fish do you plan on getting? How many? Do you want live plants or are you using artificial plants?
So tank size will limit growth then? I will try to restrain myself from getting involved with a tank larger than I can handle for now. I'll see how he grows, and try to move it up as needed.
Algae as a snack. Yum.
Oddly enough, smaller tanks can be much more difficult to maintain. A 5-10 gallon tanks can very quickly build up biological toxins that can harm your fish. Imagine a crowded and overpopulated refugee camp, and how if it is overpopulated it can quickly become unhealthy and squalid. A tank in the 30-55 gallon range gives enough room to have a good variety of fish as well as a good population(number of fish). They also won't be as stressed out as each fish will be able to have a territory of it's own or room to escape a more aggressive fish.
It's also easier to keep 30-55 gallon tanks temperature stable than it is to keep 5 gallons temperature stable. There are cheap and effective electric heaters that you suspend in the tank that hang off the top edge. They have accurate therostats that keep the temp in a certain range best for your fish. Your pet shop will tell you what a good temp range is for the fish you want.
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Originally posted by wucky3I will do that, switching off at night. Anything for this one, it's about the oddest looking fish I've seen up close, but I like it's character.
Mine is more active at night too...I always switch off the tank light before i go to bed but keep it on until then because it's so relaxing to watch
Originally posted by SJ247Re - Light. You can have the light on for a while at night to watch them, but try to have a regular period of darkness so the fish get a consistant sense of regular "day" and "night". They're just healthier this way.
Well, when I was looking to find this fish online, the "Plecostomus" name was in the same category, so I figured same thing, in all of my fish wisdom. He does sweep the rock surface, and also sometimes skins the water surface upside down, which is pretty comical.
Funny that you say nocturnal, I noticed last night (first night) that he seemed to really become active later in the evening. I do have a light on the lid, do you think they mind this?
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Originally posted by Moldy CrowI have a ten gallon tank, and in it are some artificial plants, some rocks, a filter some goldfish, and this thing. I don't know if I want real plants or not, are they better?
How big is your current tank? What fish do you plan on getting? How many? Do you want live plants or are you using artificial plants?
Oddly enough, smaller tanks can be much more difficult to maintain. A 5-10 gallon tanks can very quickly build up biological toxins that can harm your fish. Imagine a crowded and overpopulated refugee camp, and how if it ...[text shortened]... t for your fish. Your pet shop will tell you what a good temp range is for the fish you want.
